Have now been in Barcelona for a couple of days. Barcelona can feel a little overwhelming at first. It is large-second largest city in Spain-and very densely populated. It also presents many faces. Old medieval quarters, nineteenth and early 20th century boulevards with lovely examples of modernist architecture, the port area, and the outer industrial regions.
And we are here at Easter, which seems to mean lots of tourists. On the other had, the road leading south from Barcelona towards Valencia was choked with traffic- maybe the tourists have replaced locals for the weekend???
Spent our first afternoon going up to Montserrat, a striking mountain about 1 hour out of town where a Benedictine monastery was built about a thousand years ago. This followed stories of an apparition of Our Lady of Montserrat in a cave on the mountain. The monastic business now incorporates a school and choir for boys, affordable holiday accommodation, cafe and gift shops, a small local farmers' market selling local cheeses etc. and weddings (there is a 2 year waiting list to be married here).
There were tons of people up there! I wasn't really expecting that. A lot of people also go walking or rock climbing on the mountain. We also ended up with quite cold, windy and a little rainy weather. It was very crowded in the church and quite dark. So dark that I couldn't easily see the famous Madonna, who is also black. So I have a postcard of her instead. She has a nice face.
It is the mountain that is stunning along with the views (somewhat compromised for us given the weather) and the sheer skill and hard work involved in building a monastery in such a location.#
Sent from my iPhone
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